posted May 15, 2008 03:54 PM            

The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil.

Under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education).
It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights.

The minority, the ruling class at present, has the schools and press, usually the Church as well, under its thumb.
This enables it to organize and sway the emotions of the masses, and make its tool of them.

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds.
The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices
but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.

The world is too dangerous to live in, not because of the people who do evil, but because of the people who sit and let it happen.

It is horrifying to realize that the poison of militarism and imperialism threatens to bring undesirable changes in the political attitude of the United States…
What we see at work is not an expression of the sentiments of the American people;
rather, it reflects the will of a powerful minority which uses its economic power to control the organs of political life.

I am against any nationalism, even in the guise of mere patriotism.

Nationalism is an infantile sickness. It is the measles of the human race.

I am an adherent of the ideal of democracy, although I well know the weaknesses of the democratic form of government.
Social equality and economic protection of the individual appeared to me always as the important communal aims of the state.

Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.

I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard existed in this country.
I made a mistake in selecting America as a land of freedom, a mistake I cannot repair in the balance of my lifetime.

Members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who,
for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. The consequence is that the representatives of the people
do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population.

Our whole educational system suffers from this evil.
An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student,
who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career.

Unlimited competition leads to a huge waste of labor,
and to that crippling of the social consciousness of individuals.

I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils,
namely through the establishment of a socialist economy,
accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.

To me the worst thing seems to be a school principally to work with methods of fear, force, and artificial authority.
Such treatment destroys the sound sentiments, the sincerity, and the self-confidence of pupils, and produces a subservient subject.